Russia: Shooting in Philosophical Clash

An argument over the teachings of the philosopher Immanuel Kant between two men standing in line for beer at an outdoor festival in southern Russia ended when one man shot the other in the head with gun loaded with rubber bullets, the state RIA news agency reported on Monday, citing the police. Though the wound was not critical, the attacker faces up to a decade in prison if convicted on assault charges. Among educated Russians, including those who drink, classical literature and philosophy are sometimes debated in casual social settings, the way sports often are in Western countries.

A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 7 of the New York edition with the headline: Russia: Shooting in Philosophical Clash. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe